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Story by Kay Norton

With loud enthusiasm often reserved for athletic events, students, faculty and staff from South Dakota State University’s agricultural programs showed up in full force to welcome a television taping of RFD-TV’s “AgDay College Roadshow” on the SDSU campus Oct. 22. 

The high bay area of Raven Precision Agriculture Center was filled with students cheering and holding signs in support of agriculture, and specifically SDSU’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. The show’s corporate sponsor, Beck’s, was on hand with sign materials for those who didn’t make their posters ahead of time. 

“AgDay College Roadshow” simulates the campus excitement of ESPN’s “College GameDay,” but instead of athletics, visits college campuses to focus on the significance and importance of agriculture. ESPN broadcast its “College GameDay” from SDSU’s campus in 2019. 

“This was a great event for SDSU and a wonderful opportunity for our university’s impact on agriculture to be highlighted on a regionally-broadcast TV show,” Joe Cassady, South Dakota Corn Endowed Dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, said. 

The show was hosted by Farm Journal editor and “AgDay” host Clinton Griffiths, joined by national reporter and markets expert Michelle Rook, who is an SDSU alum. Their first guest was SDSU Provost Dennis Hedge, who welcomed the “AgDay” crew to campus and emphasized to those in attendance and the TV audience the role and importance of ag research for the university, and ultimately for more efficient and affordable food production. 

“SDSU is proud to showcase its tradition of innovative and impactful research, as well as the successes of students who are receiving a world-class education,” Hedge said. The provost presented Griffiths and Rook with two flavors of SDSU ice cream, Cookies and Cream and Barry Berry, receiving a rousing cheer from the students. 

Rook moderated a panel discussion on ag market trends featuring SDSU market experts. Panelists included Joe Santos, academic director and professor in the Ness School of Management and Economics, and Matt Diersen, Griffith Chair in Agricultural Finance and SDSU Extension risk and business management specialist. Following their interview by Rook, Santos and Diersen fielded questions from students in the audience. 

“As a graduate of SDSU, I was proud to show off my alma mater and the students and cutting-edge research that are leading the nation and agriculture into a brighter future,” Rook said. “What a great day to be a Jackrabbit!” 

Other feature stories included a segment about recent successes enjoyed by the Department of Dairy and Food Science student judging teams; an interview with Madison veterinarian Renae Burggraff, one of the first graduating class members of SDSU’s Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine, a collaborative program that prepares students for a veterinarian degree from the University of Minnesota; and a story on SD Vivian, a new hard red winter wheat variety from the SDSU winter wheat breeding program. SDSU associate professor Sunish Sehgal explained that the new line combines high yield with high protein and drought tolerant traits. 

“This was a fantastic opportunity to showcase some of the educational excellence and cutting-edge, industry-leading research happening at SDSU,” Griffiths said. “I was impressed, and I know our audience was as well, with the depth of expertise and innovation happening at SDSU. There is clearly a real desire to make discoveries that matter to America’s farmers and ranchers that will ultimately move the industry forward.” 

The show also included a visit from SDSU’s own mascot, Jack, who stopped by to share some time on the football field with the show’s on-air personalities. 

The program aired Oct. 24 on RFD-TV and . 

“AgDay” handed out a $250 gift card to the best sign created by a student, judged by those in the audience. The winner was Payton Sailor, a junior agriculture science major from Conger, Minnesota. Beck’s sponsored a contest for the student organization creating the , awarding $1,500 to the SDSU Agronomy and Precision Ag Club.

“I loved seeing the students and their enthusiasm for agriculture and the university,” Griffiths noted. “It’s a testament to the strong values and community mindset SDSU is building in Brookings through its exceptional leadership, educational opportunities and cutting-edge research.”